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When you think a meal for two people in the Singing Oyster
could cost as much as £250, you can see Grace is a very
clever chef indeed. Not only is she the first woman ever to
get this job, she's also the first black person.
About six months after starting the job she finds she's
always dropping things for no reason. Her husband, Ryan, notices
she's doing it at home, too.
After visiting her doctor (her GP), she's sent for a scan
at a hospital. This creates a 'picture' of her brain. The
scan, with other information, helps doctors realise Grace
has a disease of her nervous system – it's rare, in
other words, not a disease that many people have. It's called
Motor Neurone Disease. This means that, over time, Grace's
body will stop working. Motor Neurone Disease is a terminal
illness – this means you die from it.
It's a great shock to Grace, Ryan (her husband) and her
family. Also, of course, to her friends and work colleagues.
The most important thing now is to make sure that the rest
of Grace's life is as good as possible. Grace will keep working
for as long as she can – she'll need help in doing this.
Later on, she'll need special equipment, like a wheel chair.
She'll need a portable communication aid that looks like a
keyboard so she can communicate with those around her. She'll
need help with eating as well.
A Radiographer
takes the scan that helps find out what's wrong with Grace.
A Dietitian
will help with the best sort of diet for Grace. This is important
because she will find it harder to chew and swallow as time
goes on. There's another reason diet is specially important
for Grace. It's because Grace worked as a chef. Food and cooking
is her great interest. It's important that Grace carries on
enjoying food.
Grace and her family will need help with using alternative
methods of communicating as her speech deteriorates –
a Speech
and Language Therapist helps with this. The speech and
language therapist can also help with swallowing and will
work with the dietitian and the family to ensure that Grace
can manage all her food and drink safely.
Grace will need help with walking, exercising and using
a wheelchair as she gets weaker. A Physiotherapist
will help with this. Grace and Ryan will need to make sure
their home is adapted to make life as easy as possible for
Grace; Grace wants to do as much as possible for herself.
The person who will help here is an Occupational
Therapist. Grace may need special equipment to help her
sit up; as she has difficulty with her hands, supportive splints
supplied by an Orthotist
will also help her.
All these people need to work together to make sure Grace
is properly looked after. They need to work with Ryan, too.
The team will work with Grace's family, friends and people
at work – because Grace will work as long as she can.
 Which
AHPs help Grace?
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Why
has fab chef Grace started dropping things?
